Visible card index



- y 1941- J. R. CLARK 2,250,625

VISIBLE CARD INDEX Filed Nov. 1, 1958 15 I 25 2 my. Ar 16 g1" 18 I m? H INVENTOR.

a E Q 22?} 21 BY Jameesfi. [Yank their length for insertion in Patented July 29, 194i UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE VISIBLE CARD INDEX James R. Clark. Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Yawman & Erbe Manufacturing Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 1, 1938, Serial No. 238,155

12 Claims.

vent lateral displacement of the hinges in the slots after insertion therein.

An object of this invention is to provide a visible index in which cards may be inserted without first being bowed to reduce the distance between the hinges formed thereon.

'Another object of the invention to provide an index of the above character in which the cards may be releasably locked in position, so that the hinges cannot be inadvertently moved laterally in the slots.

A further object of the invention is to provide an index of the above character wherein the cards may be held in an offset position in which they'may also be locked releasably against inadvertent lateral displacement.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a plurality of ribs are provided in the bottom of the'tray which serve to space the holders from, the bottom thereof. These ribs support the holdersin the proper position and at the same time they provide sufficient space between eachholder and the bottom of the tray for the insertion of the card hinges into the slots; The holders are preferably made of a flexible light material, so that they may be bowed to reduce suitable grooves formed in the sidesof the tray.

Two or more spaced slots are perforatedin the holders, each of which is provided with a wide portion and a restricted portion. The-re stricted portion is preferablyaslong as the'wid'e portion, although, obviously, it may be made longeror shorter if desired. The distance between the wide portions of the slots in any holder is made the sameas the distance between the hinges on the card or cards to be supported, so that the hinges may be inserted in the wide portionof the slots without the necessity of bowingthe card. This last feature results in a substantial increase in the useful life of the cards, since it has been found that in constructions where the cards must be bowed after frequent insertions and removals, a crease forms in the,

central portionof the cards which weakens them to such an extent that their usefulness is much reduced and frequent replacements are necessary." I

The advantages of this invention are clue in part to the relationship existing between'the ribs in the bottom of the tray and the slots in the card holders. The ribs, preferably, but not necessarily, equal in number to the number of" slots in the holders or card hinges to be engaged, extend longitudinally of the tray and project upwardly to the lower face of each holder. These ribs are spaced in the bottom of the tray in such relation to the slots in the holders that the card hinges may be freely received in. the w'idelportions' of the slots, and may be releasablyheld in the narrow portions thereof, so that mad-,-

vertent lateral displacement of the hinges in the slots may be eifectively prevented.

Additional objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial view in plan of a visible with this invention;

Figure 2 is a view in section taken through the line 2+2 of Figure 1,'looking in the direction of the arrows, showing several cards assembled in the tray in the locked position;

Figure 3 is a view in section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1, illustrating a card in" an offset position;

Figure 4. is a partial view in section illustrating the manner in which the hinges may be inserted in the slots; and

, Figure 5 is a partial view in section of a modification of Figure 3 illustrating the manner in which the cards may be frictionally held in the offset position.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the tray of a visible index is shown at III which "comprises a bottom plate II in which the channels l2 and I3 are formed. These three channels extend for the entire length of the tray Ill, channel I2 being disposed in the central portion of the tray Iwhile channels i 3 are formed adjacent its ,twosides. Secured to the two sides of theplate H are two channel members l4,-on each of which a flange l 5 is formed which lies parallel to the upper -sur-' face of the channel l3, forming a narrow groove.

l6 therebetween in which the flexible holders I! are adapted to be received. 7

The holders slots l8 and I! are formed with a plurality of V [9 which areprovided with re-Q stricted portions 2il'and 2! extending longitudithereon the hinges 24 which may be formed ofja" strip of fabric which is bent back on itself, to

form two leaves with a pintle on the folded eclge,"

which are secured by means of a suitable adhe sive to the front and rear facesgoftheca'rd. In assembling the visible index, the" flexible holders H are first bowedto reduce the length between their ends so that the ends 'm'ay bein The holders" serted into the narrow recesses l6.

H are then allowed to return to the normal fiat DOSitiOIi 'il'i'whiel'f they le's't Oh the supporting channels l2a'ndl3 iiisuch'fash'ion that theiare spaced at all points by a predetermined amount from 'the'bo'tboi'n' of'the tray; The hinges "Z4 on the card 25'are fir'st' inserted inthe"wide por tio'ns of the slotsidandthecard is then moved laterally to'the' right until the hinges'lfeng'age the entrance'to the restricted" portions 2 l and the'pintlesofthe hinges'a'r below the lower face ofthe holder. As shown in' Figure" 4; further lateral movement of the left hingeifl is prevented by the raised portion 23 of therib 22' at -the ex treme left hand'side'of the tray, so that the card must be raised upwardly in order to" bow the holder l! by" an amountsufiicient to permit hinge 24to' pass over the raised portion 23 ."The"hin'g'e 2'4maynow be moved laterally tothe rightin'the restricted portion 2| when'the card 25 may befre leased and the holder l" restoredto"its" normal position'on' the channels [2 andflS. illustrated in Figure 2; tliehinges 24 on the card 25 are placed so that they maybeiihjserte'd in'the twoinnermost'slo'ts I8 and'then" movedto the locked position. It will be"noted' thatfthe" effective length of the restricted portionbf'th slot 26 is but slightly large'r 'than the width of the"hinge 24, so that lateral motion'therof is almost entirely "prevented; Once 'the hi'nges' 24 have been insertedj'and'thecards" are'ii'i the locked position, it is obvious thatfthey" cannot thereafter be inadvertently moved from the restricted portion of the slot.

"Ifdesired; two card's'may be inserted in one holder as'isshown' in Figure'Z, in whiclif'case' hinges are provided on one card to engage the" slots 8' while the hingeson a secondca'rd, shown in dotted'lines, areedapted to be inserted in the" slots-19:"When the second cardis inserted in the slots l9it will be locked in positionfagainst' movement to the'left by the'raised portion of the ribat the extreme left hand side of the'tray; and'against movement to the right by the raised portion of the rib at the e'xtremeright hand'side of the tray, from which'position it'canno't be removed without first lifting the card to bow'th'e fiexible hold-er n.

Ahadditionalfiling division may be obtained by offsetting some ofthe 'cards in the'tra'yl'a's shown in Figure 3, This maybe accomplishedjby' liftingthe card shown indotted lines in Figure' Z so that its right-handfhinge'may be moved past the raised portion 23 of the "ribj22 at theextjreme right hand side of the tray intothepositonshown iiigure 3: in wh h the" pa d ill. be; tlo jsedfi the holder, and offset with respect to the tray. 1-, will be noted that the rib 22 at the extreme right hand side of the tray serves to keep the hinge 24 from being inadvertently moved lateral- 1y so it will not slip out of the holder. It is evident that by offsetting part of the cards as shown in Figure 1, they may be divided into two groups in addition to the customary well known filing divisions;

As an alternative, cards may be frictionally held in the offset position as illustrated in Figure 5'. This may be accomplished by moving the card to the right until the pintle of. the hinge 24 rests upon the raised portion 23 of the rib 22, beneath the strip I1. The pressure exerted on the pintle of the hinge 24. by the under surface of strip- 11 the completed holder, including.

' theywmrearrange-entree and the r'aised portion 23 of rib 22 gives rise to sufficient friction to hold the card effectively in the offset position.

Although the flexible holders I? may be made of, any fiez rible material, it is preferred that they .NHHM ..m i. do

operation, Furtl'iiniorejofi great advantage in the weight of the:

assembled tray; Fibre sti cks o'fthis character, mt'redver, may, be, very easily bowed prior'tb insertion we. ay without tiiglg damaged. to any eiit' erebyf'anisi'ric e, in 'accordariice'witli this, K ","tlie stripsare not continually V flexed T when a "'embled' iii 't'n an,

periods of ti e 'rnerep aeeme or a card holderafter removal may 'beffacilitatedf. bfpr "dingi holders" of fdif l fre'nt"colors','as,j for ex 1e; 'rd' and black, afld' arranging their! in th p etf iy, in, 'such i fashi oi that adjacent holders arefof differentrcojlfor. when one noiue'rffif removed, its positionfwill be markedby the twofadiace'ntf holders whiclli' will befof the sanr'co d s'o'th'a'tf'tb Ioc'a'tethe pf si' 611 o'f'the removed holder: on need only'lookffor we adj acent,-holders'WliiEh are of ,t'he 'same jc'oidg.

The provision tr mmers, of'di'ffe rerit colorls fur,- the! ass sts iii the insertion of each c r" i'ryits geg rfho a r'; Because oflthaproxir'nity jof the holders infthe tray, i'tfjmij'ht be possible inad verftentlyfto insert the'lef inge in 'asiofiioi dii ol r and ui neht hinee slot of Ia'rfi' he; centhblder, fifth holders arefa'iigoiritii aiii color. "Wh'erefadra neim aersj-aie arflmepf'fit colors, however, isirr ipejssible, since the prop; r de l enmfi'edfby a distinctive notified is p m lie nearest ihol'derof the same color by, a holderffoffdi fie I t'fcolorl El/81 1: when several ad'jjacei t'holders ar'e'tr .t'hje saifiefeolor, the finding; 'dfgthe corriect .line'of 'Jslots'isfa tatedb'y. anew tandbreoibi; ai'stir'lgiiisnng thijsfsmall groupof'hol'ders, Where) it is not; d'esfi'iedl'to use individual holders, a solid ,sheetgof'gn'exime 'material' .21 meme ,standarditemsas are the channel members l4, so

that they may be easily cut to the proper size and spot welded or otherwise secured in position, as

shown in Figures 2 and 3. The entire tray, therefore, may be constructed and assembled with a minimum number of simple manufacturing operations, thusproviding a sturdy and elfective visible index which is at the same time inexpensive and easily manufactured. a H It isevident that where the word rib is used throughout the specification, it is intended to include angles.

The invention provides an improved visible index whichis light in weight, inexpensive and simple in construction. Furthermore, the novel tray construction including the channels beneath the slot portions in the card holders, and the locking ribs or angles formed, Welded or otherwise secured in position, in the bottoms of the channels, enables'the cards to be readily inserted in the holders in such fashionthat they cannot be thereafter inadvertently moved laterally in the holders, thus :providing a visible index of highly serviceable character." 7

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described above, it is not intended to'be in any way limited thereby except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a visible card index, the combination of a flexible card holder, a tray in which the card holder is adapted to be received, a plurality of longitudinally extending slots in the said card holder in which the hinges of a file card are adapted to be received, each slot having a wide portion and a narrow portion, the narrow portions of the slots extending in the same direction, means in the tray forming an open channel beneath each of the said slots, and means in the channels for locking the card hinges in the narrow portions of the slots.

2. In a visible card index, the combination of a card holder, a tray in which the card holder is adapted to be received, a plurality of longitudinally extending slots in the card holder in which the hinges of a file card are adapted to be received,

each slot having a wide portion and a narrow portion, and the narrow portions of the slots extending in the same direction, means in the tray forming an open channel beneath each of the said slots, and at least one member in the tray having a raised portion extending upwardly to the under surface of the said card holder, whereby inadvertent lateral movement of the card hinges in the narrow portions of the slots is prevented.

3. In a visible card index, the combination of a card holder,a tray in which the card holder is adapted to bereceived, a plurality of longitudinally extending slots in the card holder in which the hinges of a file card are adapted to be received, each slot having a wide portion and a narrow portion, and the narrow portions of the slots extending in the same direction, means in the tray forming an open channel beneath each of the said slots, and at least one member in the tray havingv a raised portion extending upwardly to the under surface of the said card holder at a point below the narrow portion of a slot, whereby inadvertent lateral movement of the card hinges in the narrow portions of the slots is prevented.

4. In a visible card index, the combination of a file card having hinges thereon, a flexible card holder, a tray in which the card holder is adapted portion and a narrow portion, and the narrow to be received, a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced slots in :the: said card holder adapted to receive .the hinges of the file card, each ,slot having a wide portion and a narrowportion,

,thenarrow portions of the slots extending in the same directionandbeing substantially. twice as long as the width of a1card hinge,.means in the tray formingan openchannel beneath each of the said slots, andga't least. one member in the tray having, a'raised portion extending upwardly to :the under surface .of .the' said card holder, whereby theicard may be moved laterally to an ofi'setpositionin the holder in which position it will .be locked againstiinadvertent lateral move ment. v

5. A visible card index comprising a flexible card holder, a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced slots in the said card holder adapted to receive the hinges of a file card, each slot having a wideportion and a narrow portion, a tray in which the said holder is adapted'to be received, and aiplurality of longitudinally extending ribs in the tray adapted to cooperatewith the said slots for allowingthe hinges to be freely receivedin the wide portions of the slots, and for holding the hinges releasably in the narrow portions of the slots;

62A visible card index comprising a flexible card holder, a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced slots in the said card holder adapted to receive the hinges of a file card, each slot having a wide portion and a narrow portion, the narrow portion being at least as long as the width of a card hinge, a tray in which the said holder is adapted to be received, and a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs in the tray, each of the said ribs having a raised portion extending substantially to the under face of the said holder.

to a point beneath the narrow portion of a slot spaced from its closed end by a distance at least equal to the width of a card hinge, whereby the card hinges may be freely received in the wide portions of the slots, and releasably held in the narrow portions thereof.

'7. In a visible card index, the combination of a card holder, a tray in which the card holder is adapted to be received, a longitudinally disposed series of spaced slots in the card holder in which the hinges of file cards are adapted to be received, each of said slots extending laterally of the tray and having a wide portions of the slots extending in-the same direction, means in the tray forming an open channel beneath each of the said slots, and at least one member in the tray having a raised portion extending upwardly to the under surface of the said card holder, whereby inadvertent lateral movement of the card hinges in the narrow portions of the slots is prevented.

8. In a visible card index, the combination of a supporting frame, a card holder in said frame, a plurality of longitudinally extendingslots in the upper face of said card holder in which the hinges of a file card are adapted to be received, means in said frame for spacing said card holder from the bottom thereof, and means projecting upwardly from the frame and adapted'to cooperate with the slotsin said card holder for are adapted to be received-each slot having a widegportionl and a'.narrow. portion, the narrow pdr'ticinsof; the slots extending in the same diaiection;.means in the frame: for spacingssaid card hold'errgfroml the bottom thereof; and means in the drama; adapted to cooperate with said card zholdersfonlocking: the card v hingeszinr the narrow iportionslof the. slots thereof; 1 10. A visible cardindexmomprisingi a;supp'ort' ing frame; .a; card; holder in .said a frame;- a: pinralityofi longitudinally extending slot'si in said card; holder; adapted; to. receive the hinges: ot a file-march each slot having; aswid portion and a narrow; portion; a: raised'lnemberiin :the-support: ingzsframe for spacing said; card holder from the bottom thereof, and a plurality of longitudinally ex.tending ribs in the frame, adapted-.t'o' cooperateawith said; card: holder for allowing: the card hinges to; be :vfie'elyrreceivediimthe; w-ic'le portions of: the: slots, therein; and .for: lockling.thei hinges releasably; in l the; narrow; portions of:' the slots thereme j e v. 'i- 1'11 A visible, ca'rdindex. comprisingqa-support wing: frame; a: plurality of; flexible l card; holders said frame; .each ofsaid: cardiholders. having as; plurality 0t longitudinally. extending; slots formed thereihpinwhich; the, hinges-of: aafilei card are adapted to be received, means-in said f'rame fOI-mingl: a: longitudinally: extending. inverted cha'nn'el-adjacentv opposite sides thereof; means cooperating with-the said: channels to form a pair of; opposite grooves in which the ends of saidccard holdersmay be sprung, means in the 'c'entral portion of the fram'e forming an inverted channel: ion supportingsaid card holders, and means in thezframe; between said side; channels and; sai'di centrali channel, adapted to cooperate with eachluof said card holders: for locking the hinges: of: a: card releasably inthe slots therein.

12. A visible card index comprising a supportingzfraine 'means atflopposite sides of the frame forming. a pairrfofi opposite grooves, a plurality of flexible card holders sprung into said grooves, alternate holders being ofldifierent color whereby the replacement of a removedl holder or card may be'zfacilitat'ed, aepluralityz of longitudinally extending? slots: inthel upperrfaceof each of said .cardizholders; in which the hinges of a filecard arez'a'dapted torbe'in'serted, means in the central portionof itheiframe forming an inverted-channel; ion spacing-1 the: holders from the bottomthereot, and -meansvproj'ectingiupwardly from the frame and adapted'ito. cooperate with the: slots in; each: of" said card holdersmforv. locking the hinges of a. card releasably therein;v

' l V JAMESR'. CLARK. 

